PI Blotter: Another Private Investigator Scandal in the UK

Each week PInow combs the web for the latest and most interesting industry news stories to bring you the Weekly Private Investigator Blotter.

Private Investigator Bill Does Not Pass

BIRMINGHAM, AL – A bill to establish a Private Investigator Regulatory Board (HB 80) has not passed the legislative session, even though the proposed law faced no opposition in the Senate or House. The bill would have created a board in order to regulate and license Alabama private investigators. According to some industry experts, the legislation is needed because currently virtually anyone can establish a private investigation agency in the state.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Tallahassee has established a new policy which regulates when and how the city can launch surveillance cases and hire Florida private investigators. The new policy was not voted on by commissioners of the city but was approved by the Treasurer-Clerk and City Attorney. The new policy allows the city treasurer-clerk and city attorney to be the ones authorized to hire private investigators for the city and to determine the scope of investigations and surveillance cases. The policy only involves cases where people have disputed claims against the city. Workers’ compensation and police investigations will not be affected by the policy.

BOSTON, MA – Forensic specialists, private investigators, crime analysts, and other investigative professionals have created a volunteer group known as Mission for the Missing to help families looking for missing persons. The organization was established in 2009 by private investigator Alan Tate and psychic Maureen Hancock. Tate and Hancock decided to establish Mission for the Missing to address the many missing persons cold cases which get limited resources.

UK – Metropolitan police commander Peter Spindler has been asked to clarify information he provided to parliament regarding his understanding of a new scandal – one that involves private investigators paying for information. Spindler’s department has been investigating allegations for six months now. Private investigators hired by Nigerian fraudster James Ibori are alleged to have paid police officers a reported £20,000 for private information.

UK – There have been six murder investigations into the death of private investigator Daniel Morgan, who was found with an axe embedded in his skull in 1987. Despite the investigations, there have been no convictions in the case and now Morgan’s brother would like an inquiry into police actions in the case, alleging that the handling of the case was not correct.

DELTA COUNTY, CO – The Delta County Humane Society hired Colorado private investigator Greg Turner in April for animal rescue and animal cruelty investigations. While the police will remain the first place to turn in the event of animal cruelty allegations, Turner will be available to discuss animal cruelty laws and to conduct independent investigations. Turner will also do follow-up investigations to official police cases involving animal cruelty.